THE GREAT DEBATE

Mark 11:27-33
Holy Bible. New Living Translation copyright © 1996, 2004 by Tyndale Charitable Trust.

The Authority of Jesus Challenged

27 Again they entered Jerusalem. As Jesus was walking through the Temple area, the leading priests, the teachers of religious law, and the elders came up to him. 28 They demanded, “By what authority are you doing all these things? Who gave you the right to do them?”

29 “I’ll tell you by what authority I do these things if you answer one question,” Jesus replied. 30 “Did John’s authority to baptize come from heaven, or was it merely human? Answer me!”

31 They talked it over among themselves. “If we say it was from heaven, he will ask why we didn’t believe John. 32 But do we dare say it was merely human?” For they were afraid of what the people would do, because everyone believed that John was a prophet. 33 So they finally replied, “We don’t know.”

And Jesus responded, “Then I won’t tell you by what authority I do these things.”


Try as they might, the ‘religious’ leaders could not trip up Jesus. They tried to trap Him … trick Him into saying something they could use to turn the people against Him.

Do we debate with the all-knowing One? Do we challenge His authority trying to get our own way? It is a debate … a challenge we can never win.

Do what you will … He will still be God and He is always right … just … fair!